Category Archives: Government Programs
ITD presents next roads budget
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has put together a $579 million budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins this July. Fifty-five percent of money comes from the federal government. ITD officials say the amount of federal dollars flowing into Idaho … Continue reading
New Capitol space means higher rent for lawmakers
The expansions in the renovated Idaho Capitol are adding to the maintenance costs that need to be covered by the Division of Public Works. The expanded below-ground garden level includes bigger meeting rooms and offices for all legislators. The added … Continue reading
Unfilled state jobs could disappear
More than 460 full-time positions, most of them currently vacant, could be eliminated from the state payroll. The move being backed by Gov. Butch Otter won’t help out current budget concerns, but could slow expansion in state agencies when Idaho’s … Continue reading
New state-run immunization buying pool in the works
A task force of Idaho lawmakers is moving forward with a plan to reshape immunization coverage for children. The plan would create a universal pool for buying immunizations that would be funded by assessments on health insurance providers. “I think … Continue reading
Otter urges better communication by investment groups (video)
Governor Butch Otter stressed cooperation and motivation at a meeting with investment and banking leaders in Boise on Tuesday. He said public and private investment groups need to communicate better how to get money to businesses looking to grow in … Continue reading
Idaho Freedom Foundation releases pork report
The Idaho Freedom Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste released a report Wednesday with a list of what they call wasteful parts of the Idaho state budget. You can read the Idaho Pork Report at the IFF website. IdahoReporter.com is … Continue reading
Wolf hunt shut down in Southern Mountains
Five zones of the state-licensed wolf hunt in Idaho are closed. The limit of 10 wolves has been reached in the Southern Mountains zone in central Idaho, spanning from eastern Elmore County to the Montana border in parts of Lemhi … Continue reading
Lawmakers have immunization problem to solve
One early hurdle for Idaho lawmakers in 2010 will be finding millions of dollars for the state’s childhood immunization program. Funding is set to run out at the end of January, though lawmakers working closely on the issue say temporary … Continue reading
Wolf hunt closes in Palouse-Hells Canyon
Another zone of the state-licensed wolf hunt in Idaho is closed. The limit of five wolves has been reached in the Palouse-Hells Canyon zone in Western Idaho, according to Idaho Fish and Game. So far, a total of 131 wolves … Continue reading
Top Idaho Democrat criticizes Risch health reform stance
The top Democrat in the Idaho House, John Rusche of Lewiston, criticized Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch’s stance against federal health care reform. Risch spoke on the Senate floor Monday against plans in the reform package to expand Medicaid, which … Continue reading